International Accreditation Forum, Inc. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN IAF

Transcription

1 IAF-MM International Accreditation Forum, Inc. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN IAF NOTE This Application must be submitted in English, and all associated documentation should be submitted in English. However an applicant which has difficulties in providing all documentation in English should discuss alternatives with the Secretary of IAF. Please check your application against the check lists on pages 15 or 16 BEFORE submitting this Application to the Secretary of IAF. Applicants for Accreditation Body Membership please complete Sections 1, 2 and 5. Applicants for Association Membership please complete Sections 1, 3 and 5. Applicants for Partner Membership please complete Sections 1, 4 and 5. SECTION 1 ALL APPLICANTS The organisation named below applies for membership in the International Accreditation Forum, Inc. in the Category of Membership indicated below: (strike out inapplicable categories) Accreditation Body Member (see Note 1 on page 8 and Section 2 responses to all elements in Section 2 must be provided) Name of Organisation in Full (English) Hellenic Accreditation System S.A. Name of Organisation in Full (Own Language) Εθνικό Σύστηµα ιαπίστευσης Α.Ε. Short Name and Acronym: ΕΣΥ (ESYD) Full Street Address: 8 Sissini Str., Athens, Greece

2 IAF Application for Membership IAF-MM Page 2 of 14 Postal Address (if different) Telephone Number (international) FAX Number (international) esyd@esyd.gr Web site Economies in which operate Greece If Member of an IAF Regional Group Name of Regional Group EA Name of Person to sign MoU: Konstantine CAGARAKIS Position in applicant organisation: Chairman Contact details (if different from above) Name of Contact Person for enquiries (if different from above):

3 IAF Application for Membership IAF-MM Page 3 of 14 Additional Information Required Under IAF rules applicants for Membership must satisfy Members on the following matters a) the applicant has an acceptance or equivalent standing within an economy, region or internationally, b) the structures and activities of the applicant support IAF s objective of working together on a worldwide basis to achieve common trade facilitation objectives, c) the applicant s programs and their application are compatible or in accordance with IAF endorsed International Standards or Application Guidance approved by IAF, d) the programs the applicant offers internationally are available for operation by any other IAF Accreditation Body Member, as applicable. Please supply documentation satisfying each of these matters, where appropriate. Documents which satisfy the above mentioned matters are included in the documentation package attached to this application. More specifically for a) see Law 3066/2002 b) see Quality Manual c) see Quality Manual

4 IAF Application for Membership IAF-MM Page 4 of 14 SECTION 2 - APPLICANTS FOR ACCREDITATION BODY MEMBERSHIP - 1. Accreditation Programs within Current Scope of IAF - A. Program Type ISO Guide 61 and ISO Guide 62 Date Program Started: 1999 Number of Accreditations Issued: 30 B. Program Type ISO Guide 61 and ISO Guide 65 Date Program Started: 2000 Number of Accreditations Issued: 15 C. Program Type ISO Guide 61, ISO Guide 66 and EC 761:2001 Date Program Started: 2001 Number of Accreditations Issued: Accreditation Programs outside Current Scope of IAF - A. Program Type ELOT EN ISO/IEC Date Program Started: 2002 Number of approvals issued: 3 B. Program Type ΕΑ 03/03 (ISO TR 17010) and EN (now ISO/IEC 17020) Date Program Started: 2001 Number of approvals issued: 37

5 IAF Application for Membership IAF-MM Page 5 of Documentation Accompanying Application A. Minimum requirement - copies of the Quality Manual and Accreditation Procedures for IAF programs - in English or the language agreed with the Secretary. B. Objective documentary evidence that the applicant body fulfils, or intends to fulfil, the requirements set out below (reference to sections of the Quality Manual, Procedures or other documentation provided will be sufficient). 1) It provides (or will provide) accreditation services relating to conformity assessment of management systems, products, personnel, or similar programs; 2) It operates (or will operate) its programs in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 61; 3) It is a legal entity (ISO/IEC Guide d) provide evidence of legal status including the economy in which incorporated or has legal status; 4) It has a documented structure which safeguards impartiality; the structure shall enable participation of all parties significantly concerned (ISO/IEC Guide e); 5) It has policies and procedures that distinguish between accreditation and any other activity in which the accreditation body is engaged (ISO/IEC Guide l); 6) It ensures that activities of related bodies do not affect the confidentiality or impartiality of its accreditations and shall not offer or provide, directly or indirectly: those services that its accredits others to perform consulting services to obtain or maintain accreditation services to design, implement or maintain a certification scheme (ISO/IEC Guide o); 7) It Intends to seek membership of the IAF MLA and to subject itself to peer evaluation by IAF, when its accreditation program is developed sufficiently to meet the requirements for membership in the MLA; 8) It intends to recognise accreditations granted by other members of the IAF MLA as equivalent in all respects to its own accreditations, in all accreditation programs it operates 9) A brief explanatory statement indicating where in the documentation provided satisfaction of each of the Guide 61 requirements is to be verified. Details of any related organisation(s) - please explain relationship between the Applicant Organisation and related organisations (attach additional pages if necessary)

6 IAF Application for Membership IAF-MM Page 6 of 14 SECTION 5 DECLARATION ALL APPLICANTS: 1. I have read the IAF MoU (Annex 2), and hereby declare that the organisation applying for membership satisfies the requirements for membership, described in the MoU and this document in the category applied for. 2. I confirm the organisation s commitment to and support for the objectives of IAF, as set out in Section 2 of the MoU. 3. I confirm the organisation accepts the obligations of members set out in Section 4 of the MoU. 4. The organisation is ready to subscribe to the IAF Memorandum of Understanding, without reservation. 5. I understand that the information and declaration provided with this application will be relied upon by the Board of Directors in making its recommendation to members on admission of the applicant to membership, and that IAF relies upon the information provided and accepts no liability for any error made through relying on that information. (See Note 4) 6. I have forwarded an amount of $US 2, (if applicable see Annex 1) to the Treasurer of IAF in accordance with the instructions in Annex 3, or attach a cheque for that amount. 7. Applicants for membership as an Accreditation Body Member only I have included with this application all the documentation required under Section 2 - "Documentation Accompanying Application". Signed: Name in Block Letters: IOANNIS MATSAS Date: Note Please use Check Lists in Annex 3 to ensure you have provided all information needed to process this application Additional Comments (not required)

7 IAF Application for Membership IAF-MM Page 7 of 14 NOTES 1. The IAF Bylaws (IAF PL 2:2004) provide (Section ) that Accreditation Body Members shall consist of entities that have an acceptance within an economy, region or internationally and are engaged in developing, or conducting and administering, programs to accredit entities that perform inspections and/or certify/register programs related to quality management systems, environmental management systems, products, services, personnel, or similar programs of conformity assessment, that also demonstrate that the operation of such programs is in accordance with international standards and application guidelines which are approved from time to time by the Members. 2. The IAF Bylaws (IAF PL 2:2004) provide (Section ) that Association Members shall consist of organisations or associations representing the interests within an economy, region or internationally, of a like group of entities that engage in, are subject to, make use of, accept or rely on, programs accredited by Accreditation Body Members of IAF, and which support the objectives of IAF. 3. The IAF Bylaws (IAF PL 2:2004) provide (Section ) that Partner Members shall consist of entities representing the interests within an economy, region or internationally, of parts of governments, regulators or of organisations which are not accreditation bodies, which have an interest in conformity assessment, and which support the objectives of IAF. They may be granted Partner Membership following an affirmative vote of the Members to extend an invitation to the named entity. Such Partner Members may be invited to participate in the technical work of the Corporation in a manner determined by the Members from time to time. 4. All documentation presented with this application must be in English unless the Secretary agrees to accept some supporting documentation in another language. 5. The contents of this application and all documentation provided by the applicant will be evaluated by the IAF Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will make use of the information available to it when making its recommendation to members on the admission of the applicant to membership in IAF. The Board will submit its recommendation on acceptance of the application to the Members of IAF for endorsement, normally in a letter ballot of 60 days. 6. The documents submitted with this application, other than the name and address of the organisation, are confidential to the Secretariat and the members of the Board of Directors whilst the application is being considered by the Board. 7. Annexes 1, 2 and 3 do not need to be returned with the Application, however the application can not be processed until the Application Fee (if applicable) has been received by the IAF Treasurer.

8 IAF Application for Membership IAF-MM Page 8 of Please forward the signed original and, in the case of accreditation body applicants, a copy of the necessary documentation, including the Quality Manual and Accreditation Procedures, as set out under 2. Documentation Accompanying Application to the Secretary of IAF. 9. As it will be necessary to submit the application documents to the members of the Board for consideration, the preferred method of submitting the documents is by electronic transmission ( ). If electronic submission is not possible then one set of documents should be submitted to the Secretary by post, for inclusion in the IAF files. 10. Membership of IAF is granted by invitation only. The Board will, after consideration of the information provided by the applicant, submit a proposal to the members of IAF that they invite the applicant to join IAF. Members will vote on the proposal to invite the applicant to join, either in a letter ballot or at a meeting, but in any case a period of at least 60 days will elapse between the submission by the Board to members and the decision to invite. 11. Applicants for Accreditation Body Membership should provide all the information set out under 2. Documentation Accompanying Application, or, if all the information cannot be supplied, an explanation as to why it cannot be supplied. A brief explanatory statement which indicates where in the documentation provided evidence that the organisation does (or will) comply with ISO/IEC Guide 61 and the IAF guidance to ISO/IEC Guide 61 is required. All Applications and associated documentation are to be submitted by to The Secretary, International Accreditation Forum, 53 Manuka Circle, Cherrybrook NSW 2126 AUSTRALIA Telephone/Fax: <secretary@iaf.nu> Web site: <

9 Annex 1 International Accreditation Forum, Inc. IAF-MM APPLICATION FEE All Applications for Membership in IAF as an Accreditation Body Member and an Association Member must be accompanied by an application fee of $US 2, Applicants for membership as Partner Members do not have to pay the application fee. The application fee will not be refundable, but if the application is successful the entire amount of the application fee will be credited to the new member s membership fees in the first year of membership. Please make bank transfer payments in US Dollars as follows - Wire Transfer Funds paid by wire transfer should be paid to: (Note the entire text between quotation marks is necessary): St. Francis Bank 275 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203, USA Routing Number: For credit to the account of International Accreditation Forum, Inc., Account Number: *Quoting Reference: * Please indicate what you are wiring funds for so we know how the funds are to be applied. By International Bank Cheque through the mail - Please make cheques payable to IAF and send to - Mr Robert H King IAF Treasurer, C/- ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board 600 North Plankinton Avenue, Suite 300 Milwaukee, WI (P.O. Box 586 Milwaukee WI ) United States of America Telephone: Facsimile: rking@anab.org Notification of Payments After the Application Fee has been remitted please notify the Secretary, the Treasurer and the IAF Accountant Secretary John Owen at <secretary@iaf.nu > Treasurer Robert King at <rking@anab.org> Accountant - Kevin Breitzmann at <kbreitzmann@asq.com>

10 Annex 2 International Accreditation Forum, Inc. IAF-MM Introduction IAF Memorandum of Understanding Issue The organisations on behalf of which this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed are Members of the International Accreditation Forum, Inc. (IAF) IAF is an international association of organisations that have agreed to work together on a worldwide basis to achieve common trade facilitation objectives. IAF is a major world forum for developing the principles and practices for the conduct of conformity assessment that will deliver the confidence needed for market acceptance. IAF acts through the accreditation of those bodies that carry out inspections and/or certify or register management systems, products, personnel, and/or other similar conformity assessment programs Membership of IAF is open to organisations, as defined in the Bylaws, that meet the requirements defined in the Bylaws and uphold the objectives of IAF and that are prepared to actively participate in the work of IAF, and which sign this MoU in accordance with the requirements of Section 3.01 of the Bylaws, as a declaration of their commitment to the objectives of IAF and the obligations of Members The primary function of IAF is to provide a single system which organisations with an accredited conformity assessment certificate in one part of the world to have that certificate recognised everywhere else in the world. IAF seeks to achieve that function by promoting the international acceptance of accreditations granted by its signatory Accreditation Body Members of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA), based on the equivalence of their accreditation programs Members of IAF have rights as set out in Section 3, and the Bylaws The signing of this MoU on behalf of an organisation commits the organisation to support the Objectives of IAF as set out in Section 2, to abide by the Obligations set out in Section 4, and to abide by the requirements of the IAF Bylaws The signing of this MoU on behalf of an organisation is a declaration made in accordance with the requirements of the Bylaws of IAF The organisation and person making this declaration acknowledges that IAF may, in its discretion, admit to membership those organisations which have stated objectives compatible with the IAF Charter, including the facilitation of efficient commerce between economies. 2. Objectives 2.1. The objectives of IAF are to: a. ensure that accredited conformity assessment activities are effective in adding value to the facilitation of global trade; b. facilitate world trade by - (a) promoting common application of the requirements for inspections, certifications and/or registrations, or similar programs of conformity assessment; (b) promoting the equivalence of accreditations granted by Accreditation Body Members of inspection programs, certification and/or registration programs, or similar programs of conformity assessment; and (c) providing technical assistance to emerging economies that are developing conformity assessment accreditation programs;

11 IAF - Memorandum of Understanding IAF-MM Annex 2 Page 11 of 14 c. establish and maintain confidence in the accreditation programs operated by Accreditation Body Members and in the activities of conformity assessment bodies accredited by them by: 1. participation by Accreditation Body Members and Regional Groups in the worldwide Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). 2. exchange of information; 3. participation in IAF activities; and 4. participation in regional groupings where they exist; d. support the implementation by accreditation and conformity assessment bodies of those international standards and guides which are endorsed by IAF, and to contribute to their development as necessary; e. harmonise the application of criteria for the operation of the Accreditation Body Members accreditation schemes, based on IAF endorsed international standards and guides, and publicly available IAF guidance documents on the application of those standards and guides; f. establish and maintain an MLA based on the equivalence of the Accreditation Body Members accreditation programs verified through peer evaluation and/or re-evaluation among Accreditation Body Members, such that all parties have confidence in the declared equivalence; g. promote the international acceptance of the MLA, and of regional group MLA s, on the equivalence of the operation of their accreditation programs, and the international acceptance of conformity assessment results from bodies accredited by Members of the MLA; and h. open and maintain channels for the interchange of information and knowledge between Accreditation Body Members and other relevant bodies; 3. Rights 3.1. To achieve the aims and objectives of IAF, each Member has the right to: a. participate in meetings and activities organised on behalf of IAF, including the activities of its subordinate committees; and b. obtain non-confidential information on the operation of the accreditation programs of other Accreditation Body Members. 4. Obligations 4.1. All Members of IAF commit themselves to the pursuance of the objectives of IAF. In particular, each IAF Member commits itself to: a. abide by the requirements of the IAF Certificate of Incorporation and the IAF Bylaws as adopted by a vote of the Members of IAF from time to time; b. conform with the rules and procedures of IAF as adopted by the Members voting in accordance with the rules in the Bylaws; c. support the world-wide acceptance of the IAF MLA between Accreditation Body Members that operate the same IAF endorsed accreditation programs; d. actively promote the acceptance of the equivalence of the accreditations granted by Members of an IAF MLA, that are covered by the scope of the respective MLA; e. actively promote the equivalence of accredited conformity assessment and other results of accredited assessment activities, granted by bodies accredited by Members of an IAF MLA, that are covered by the scope of the respective MLA;

12 IAF - Memorandum of Understanding IAF-MM Annex 2 Page 12 of 14 f. endeavour to prevent unauthorised disclosure of any confidential information gained within IAF; g. pay all monies due to IAF; and h. make available on request to IAF its rules, objectives, aims, membership and other documentation, as agreed from time to time Each Accreditation Body Member commits itself to: a. operate and/or develop its IAF endorsed accreditation programs in conformity with relevant international standards and/or guides endorsed by IAF, and publicly available IAF application guidance documents and policies on accreditation, which are endorsed by IAF from time to time; b. require the bodies it accredits for IAF endorsed programs to operate in accordance with the IAF guidance documents on the application of endorsed standards or guides for the provision of conformity assessment programs which are endorsed by IAF from time to time; c. seek membership of a relevant IAF MLA for each mature program it operates for which any IAF MLA has coverage, and accordingly subject itself to peer evaluation by other IAF Accreditation Body Members; d. seek and claim endorsement and/or recognition of itself as an Accreditation Body Member of IAF only in respect of those programs that are available for any other Accreditation Body Member of IAF to operate. e. seek, and claim, recognition of itself through membership of an IAF MLA, only for a program or programs available to other Accreditation Body Members; f. on achieving membership of an IAF MLA, maintain conformity with the policy and procedures of that MLA and recognise accreditations granted by other Members of the IAF MLA as equivalent in all respects to its own accreditations covered by the scope of the relevant accreditation programs; g. make available to the other Accreditation Body Members, on request, current documents describing the operation of its accreditation programs; h. make all of the standards, guides and other normative documents relevant to its accreditation program(s), and over which it exercises control, available, at a fair and reasonable cost, for other Members of IAF to adopt into their accreditation programs; and j. make continual best efforts to identify and reduce those accreditation activities which are redundant with other Members through utilization of one another's work Each Association Member commits itself to: a. conform, and require its members to conform, with IAF policies on accredited conformity assessment, IAF guidance on the use of accredited marks and the issuing of accredited certificates; b. require its members, where appropriate, to abide by the standards or guides endorsed by IAF and the relevant IAF application guidance documents as the basis for the conformity assessment programs they operate. 5. Actions Detrimental to the Objectives of the MoU 5.1. A Signatory to this MoU that does not continue to uphold its obligations under this MoU will have its membership cancelled in accordance with the Bylaws. Membership of IAF may be terminated by decision in accordance with the Bylaws if the actions of the Member are deemed to be detrimental to the objectives of this MoU or are deemed to bring the good name of IAF into disrepute.

13 IAF - Memorandum of Understanding IAF-MM Annex 2 Page 13 of A Member of IAF which has not paid the membership fees, as levied in accordance with the Rules for IAF Membership Fees, shall have its membership suspended until the fees are paid. When membership is suspended representatives of that Member shall not be permitted to speak or vote in any IAF meeting, and membership of the MLA Group shall be suspended. Membership shall be re-instated if the fees are paid within twelve months of the due date. Membership shall be cancelled if the membership fees are not paid, without explanation accepted by the IAF Board of Directors, twelve months after the due date Should a Member wish to renew its membership of IAF after cancellation, that Member shall apply as a new Member and the application shall be processed in the normal way. Renewal of membership may be subject to the settlement of any outstanding debts that were due at the time membership was cancelled. Reinstatement of membership in the IAF MLA shall be subject to the normal peer evaluation and/or re-evaluation processes. 6. Decisions that Bind Members of IAF 6.1. Decisions that bind Members of IAF shall be made in accordance with the rules laid down in this MoU, the IAF Bylaws, and the IAF Certificate of Incorporation. 7. Validity of Memorandum of Understanding 7.1. This MoU will continue indefinitely unless the signatories agree revision or termination in accordance with these provisions This MoU may be amended only by a resolution of the Members having achieved a two-thirds majority in accordance with the voting rules in the Bylaws, provided that two months prior notice of the amendment has been given to all Members, together with relevant information If any Member intends to terminate its participation in this MoU and its membership in IAF, the Member shall notify the Chairman of IAF of its intention not later than three months prior to the intended termination date Questions of interpretation of this MoU shall be resolved by the Members of IAF in accordance with the voting rules in the Bylaws The signatures on behalf of each participating body are appended in an Annex to this MoU.

14 Annex 3 International Accreditation Forum, Inc. CHECK LISTS ACCREDITATION BODIES - IAF-MM Applicants - Please check against these lists that all necessary information is included with this Application Section 1 Category of Membership Information Required YES NO Explanation Provided Organisation Name & Contact Details Economy operate Regional Group Membership Name of Person to Sign on behalf of applicant Name & Contact Details for Contact Person Standing within economy, region or internationally Activities support IAF s objective to achieve common trade facilitation objectives Programs are compatible or in accordance with IAF endorsed International Standards or Application Guidance Programs offers internationally available for other IAF Accreditation Body Members. Section 2 - Details of IAF Accreditation Programs Details of non-iaf Accreditation Programs A - Copy of Quality Manual A - Copy of Accreditation Procedures B - Documentary Evidence for all nine items Details of Related Organisations Declaration Signed and dated Application Fee (Annex 1) Money sent to Treasurer and advice to Secretary & Treasurer